Alvaro Palacios Priorat Les Terrasses 2017

55% Garnacha, 44% Carinena, 1% White Grapes. One of nine children born to the owners of Rioja’s respected Palacios Remondo, Alvaro studied enology in Bordeaux, while working under Jean-Pierre Moueix at Ch. Pétrus. He credits his tenure at Pétrus for much of his winemaking philosophy and for showing him “the importance of great wines.” Alvaro could have returned to the security of his family’s domaine. But instead, he was drawn to the remote and seductive Priorat, 60 miles from Barcelona, which had been one of Spain’s important pre-Phylloxera wine regions with a unique terroir of steep hills and terraces. While originally conceived of as a value wine, Les Terrasses has slowly evolved into the essence of what makes Priorat special. Drawing on 15+ years of study, Terrasses is sourced from many of the region’s steepest and oldest vineyards—many of them north-facing to avoid the intense afternoon sun. For those who are looking for an intro in Priorat wine, you cannot do better than Les Terrasses. Earthy, elegant tannins, and juicy this wine wears Catalonia on its sleeve. Drink from the Priorat master's cup.